Electrical socket assembly for single in-line circuit package

Abstract

A socket assembly is provided for receiving a memory module or single in-line package (SIP). The socket assembly includes a cover for protectively receiving the SIP. The cover includes an opened bottom from which the mating edge of the SIP extends. The socket assembly further includes a housing having a slot for receiving the mating edge of the SIP. A plurality of terminals are mounted in the housing in proximity to the slot for engaging conductive regions along the mating edge of the SIP. The housing includes locking latches for engaging the cover upon rotation of the cover into an alignment corresponding to full mating of the SIP.

I claim: 
     
       1. A socket assembly for receiving a circuit member having a planar substrate with a mating edge having a plurality of conductive regions disposed therealong, said socket assembly comprising: a cover for receiving and releasably mounting therein the planar substrate of the circuit member with the mating edge extending from the cover; and,   a housing having an opening adapted to receive said cover and having a mating slot formed in said housing for receiving the mating edge of the circuit member, latch means defined on said housing in proximity to the slot for lockingly engaging the cover when the mating edge of the circuit member is disposed in the slot at a selected angular alignment.   
     
     
       2. A socket assembly as in claim 1 wherein the cover includes a positioning wall disposed generally in proximity to the open bottom of the cover for preventing over-insertion of the circuit member in a first angular alignment thereof with respect to the housing. 
     
     
       3. A socket assembly as in claim 1 wherein the substrate of the circuit member includes a pair of generally parallel side edges extending orthogonally from the mating edge, and wherein the cover includes a pair of parallel channels for slidably receiving the side edges of the substrate. 
     
     
       4. A socket assembly as in claim 3 wherein the cover includes opposed spaced apart front and rear walls, the channels being disposed in proximity to the front wall of the cover and spaced from the rear wall thereof, such that the rear wall of the cover is spaced from the substrate engaged in the channels for protecting circuitry disposed on the substrate of the circuit member. 
     
     
       5. A socket assembly as in claim 3 wherein the cover defines a substantially rectangular open bottom enclosure dimensioned such that the mating edge of the circuit member extends from the open bottom of the cover. 
     
     
       6. A socket assembly as in claim 5 wherein the cover further comprises latch means extending from the open bottom for lockingly engaging the circuit member. 
     
     
       7. A socket assembly as in claim 6 wherein the latch means comprise a plurality of deflectable latches extending from the open bottom a selected distance for lockingly engaging the mating edge of the circuit member inserted into the cover. 
     
     
       8. A socket assembly as in claim 7 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of notches for receiving the deflectable latches of the cover. 
     
     
       9. A socket assembly as in claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a plurality of locking shoulders disposed at locations thereon remote from the opened bottom of the cover, and wherein the housing includes a plurality of projections for engaging the locking shoulders of the cover as the cover is rotated into a position corresponding to full mating of the circuit member. 
     
     
       10. A socket assembly as in claim 9 wherein the locking shoulders of the cover are angularly aligned to the substrate of the circuit member for facilitating rotation of the cover into locking engagement with the projections on the housing. 
     
     
       11. A socket assembly as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes first and second upstanding end walls at opposed longitudinal ends of the mating slot and a rear wall connected to and extending unitarily between the end walls, the latches of the housing being disposed intermediate the respective end walls. 
     
     
       12. A socket assembly as in claim 11 wherein the rear wall is formed to include an access opening for accessing the cover to enable selective separation of the cover and circuit member from the housing. 
     
     
       13. A socket assembly as in claim 11 wherein the rear wall includes a plurality of locking projections extending therefrom for lockingly engaging a portion of the shoulder to prevent non-rotatable separation of the cover from the housing. 
     
     
       14. A socket assembly as in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of terminals lockingly engaged in the housing for electrically contacting the conductive region along the mating edge of the circuit member upon insertion of the circuit member into the mating slot of the housing. 
     
     
       15. A socket assembly for receiving a circuit member having a planar substrate with a mating edge having a plurality of conductive regions disposed therealong, said socket assembly comprising: an opened bottom cover for receiving and releasably mounting therein the planar substrate of the circuit member with the mating edge of the circuit member extending from the opened bottom of the cover, said cover comprising a rigid positioning wall in proximity to the opened bottom end of the cover; and   a housing having an opening adapted to receive said cover and having an elongated mating slot formed in said housing for receiving the mating edge of the circuit member, a plurality of terminals being securely mounted adjacent to the slot in the housing for engaging the conductive regions of the circuit member, said housing comprising an alignment face in proximity to the slot for engaging the positioning wall of the cover and defining a limit to the movement of the circuit member into the slot of the housing, said housing further comprising a substantially rigid rear wall spaced from the slot for engaging the cover and defining a range of rotational movement of the cover relative to the housing.   
     
     
       16. A socket assembly as in claim 15 wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of deflectable latches extending from the opened bottom face thereof for engaging the mating edge of the circuit member and retaining the circuit member securely within the cover. 
     
     
       17. A socket assembly as in claim 15 wherein the cover comprises channel means for engaging the circuit member and preventing movement of the circuit member within the cover. 
     
     
       18. A socket assembly as in claim 15 wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of deflectable latches for securely retaining the cover generally adjacent the rear wall of the housing.